Is it a coincidence that the words “black” and “dark” often carry negative connotations in the English language? These terms are frequently linked to unfavorable ideas and expressions, a phenomenon deeply rooted in cultural, historical, and linguistic traditions. So, why is this the case?

Historically, light and dark have been used symbolically to represent opposing forces: good versus evil, knowledge versus ignorance, safety versus danger. Religious and philosophical texts often portray light as a source of purity, truth, wisdom, and divine presence, while darkness is associated with chaos, evil, and the unknown. Over time, these symbolic associations have permeated global language and culture.

From a linguistic standpoint, these associations have solidified into everyday expressions. Consider phrases like “blacklist” (to exclude or ostracize), “dark times” (periods of suffering), and “black sheep” (a disgrace within a group). These idioms reflect how language can reinforce negative perceptions.

It’s crucial to understand that these connotations are not inherent to the words themselves; they are products of Western cultural and racial contexts. I’m here to challenge and change these associations, recognizing their impact on perception and bias. Language is dynamic, and its evolution offers an opportunity to reshape how we speak and think.

Today, I introduce a new idiom: Anti-Melanated Tropes. This term refers to the harmful ways in which “black” and “dark” have been weaponized against Black and Brown communities. These tropes contribute to stereotypes, discrimination, systemic inequality, and even violence. They are not just linguistic quirks, they are dangerous.

Language shapes our worldview. When certain words are consistently tied to negativity, they reinforce harmful beliefs and behaviors. That’s why we must be intentional about the language we use and actively dismantle these damaging associations. Awareness and open dialogue are essential steps toward change.

Point of Facts: Media representatives, regardless of race, are among the most prolific perpetrators of Anti-Melanated Tropes. This includes journalists, producers, directors, influencers, and even on-air talent of color. Even media professionals of color perpetuate these narratives when they conform to industry norms or prioritize ratings over authenticity. The issue isn’t just who is telling the story; it’s how the story is told.

True progress demands that media creators critically examine the language, imagery, and framing they use, and commit to portraying Black and Brown communities with nuance, dignity, and truth.

The Most Common Anti-Melanated Tropes

Here are eleven pervasive stereotypes that fall under the umbrella of Anti-Melanated Tropes. These tropes are not only offensive—they are deeply damaging:

1. The Angry Black Woman – Portrays Black women as perpetually hostile and aggressive.
2. The Thug – Depicts Black men as violent and criminal.
3. The Mammy – Casts Black women as self-sacrificing caretakers, often erasing their own needs.
4. The Jezebel – Hypersexualizes Black women, painting them as promiscuous.
5. The Magical Negro – Assigns mystical wisdom to Black characters who exist solely to aid white protagonists.
6. The Absent Black Father – Suggests Black fathers are uninvolved in their children’s lives.
7. The Welfare Queen – Accuses Black women of exploiting social welfare systems.
8. The Savage – Portrays Black people as uncivilized and barbaric.
9. The Sassy Black Woman – Reduces Black women to loud, confrontational caricatures.
10. The Token Black Friend – Includes a Black character for diversity optics without meaningful development.
11. The Athlete – Implies Black people are physically gifted but intellectually inferior.

These tropes appear across media, films, commercials, social platforms, print, advertising, television, and radio. They perpetuate Anti-Melanated narratives and reinforce systemic bias.

Final Thoughts

Our truths and biases stem from our “Perception or Deception of Reality.” If you’ve ever contributed to the spread of these Anti-Melanated tropes, intentionally or not, it’s time to stop. Language is power. Let’s use it to uplift, not to marginalize.

The American people must join Sen. Schiff in calling for answers after President,s Trump’s Commerce Secretary calls Jeffrey Epstein ‘the greatest blackmailer. In a recent interview, Lutnick described a disturbing encounter with Jeffrey Epstein back in 2005 when they were neighbors in Manhattan.

Americans’ thanks to Mr. Howard Lutnick, who claimed that Jeffrey Epstein may have used blackmail to secure a lenient plea deal in 2008, have reignited concerns about the broader implications for U.S. national security. While Lutnick admitted he had no direct evidence, his speculation aligns with long-standing suspicions about Epstein’s tactics and connections. Commerce Secretary Lutnick suggested that Epstein may have recorded compromising encounters in his massage rooms, potentially involving high-profile individuals.

Secretary Lutnick further stated that Epstein’s unusually light sentence in 2008, 18 months with work release privileges, has led some to believe Epstein traded incriminating material for leniency! The FBI and DOJ have “publicly” stated there is no credible evidence that Epstein trafficked women to others or maintained a “client list”. However, some victims’ attorneys believe a small number of powerful men may have been involved. If Epstein did possess compromising material on U.S. officials, adversaries like Russia, China, or North Korea could use it for blackmail or influence operations.

New York Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer has also called on the FBI to conduct a counterintelligence threat assessment of Epstein’s files to evaluate whether foreign actors could access and weaponize them. The Epstein saga has already fueled conspiracy theories and public distrust.

If foreign powers were to leak or manipulate such material, it could fracture political cohesion and erode institutional credibility. There are calls for releasing Epstein’s files. The American people want to neutralize potential blackmail risks. However, if sensitive content exists, its exposure could damage reputations and national interests.

Multiple sources have described Epstein’s properties as outfitted with hidden cameras, especially in bedrooms and massage rooms. These setups may have been used to record encounters between guests and young women and boys.

The main factors (FACTS) that fuel national security speculation include:

• Epstein’s wealth and access: He went from being a math teacher to owning jets, mansions, and a private island, with no clear business model.

• His surveillance setups: Cameras in bedrooms, massage rooms, and guest areas suggest he may have recorded encounters for leverage.

• His global network: Epstein cultivated relationships with powerful figures in finance, science, and politics across multiple countries.

Consequently, Lawmakers must push for the FBI and DOJ to develop safeguards against cyber threats and foreign exploitation of any unreleased Epstein-related materials.

I am a proud American, a concerned citizen, and an advocate for accountability. If there is something to hide, then the American people deserve to know, before foreign powers use it against us.”

Why is Speaker Mike Johnson blocking the swearing-in of newly elected Arizona’s new congresswoman, Adelita Grijalva, thereby stalling the “Epstein File Vote?’

The Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, is under fire for delaying the swearing-in of newly elected Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva of Arizona, despite precedent allowing immediate induction during pro forma sessions. Critics say the move is a calculated effort to prevent Grijalva from becoming the 218th signature on a bipartisan discharge petition to release the Jeffrey Epstein files, which may expose powerful individuals connected to Epstein’s criminal network.

Ms Grijalva’s election was certified and uncontested. Yet Speaker Johnson, a so-called vocal Christian and self-described defender of moral values, has refused to seat her, citing procedural timing. This delay stands in stark contrast to recent Republican swearing-ins, which were expedited under similar conditions.

Representative Johnson’s action is not about procedure; it’s about power. If Speaker Johnson truly believes in Christian values, he should prioritize truth, justice, and the protection of the vulnerable. Blocking a vote that could expose child exploitation, both girls and boys, is a betrayal of those principles.”

The Epstein discharge petition has gained momentum across party lines, with growing public demand for transparency. The files in question include flight logs, visitor records, and surveillance materials from Epstein’s properties, many of which remain sealed despite years of legal battles and victim testimony.

A bipartisan group of Congress members, Faith leaders, MAGA faithful, legal experts, and victims’ advocates is calling on Speaker Johnson to act with integrity and allow Grijalva to be sworn in immediately. Justice delayed is justice denied. Silence in the face of suffering is complicity.”

The fact is, “The First Amendment Doesn’t Kill; however, the Second Kills Daily.”
We the People call on lawmakers to defend the First Amendment and reform the Second. Free speech is under attack in America through book bans, protest restrictions, and digital censorship. Yet despite this assault, the First Amendment has never taken a life.
The Second Amendment, however, enables access to firearms that kill Americans every single day. Mass shootings are routine. Children die in classrooms. Worshippers are gunned down in churches. Shoppers are slaughtered in malls.

The right to bear arms, once framed as a safeguard against tyranny, now fuels a public health crisis.

We The People Demand:
• Protection and expansion of First Amendment rights, including the right to protest, publish, and speak freely.
• Common-sense gun reform: universal background checks, red flag laws, and restrictions on assault-style weapons.
• Investment in community safety, mental health, and violence prevention programs.

The Demands Above Matter Because: The First Amendment empowers our voices. The Second Amendment, unchecked, empowers mayhem and tragedy. It’s time to re-center our values and protect the freedoms that give life, not the ones that take life.

Please Share. We deserve an America that is safer and freer. It’s time to re-center our values. The First Amendment empowers voices. The Second Amendment, unchecked, empowers tragedy.

Can you hear the souls and the spirits crying from under the rubble whose lives have been erased simply because of the “Circumstances of Their Birth”? The wreckage piled high from the debris of buildings where innocent people once shopped and worked, and from homes where people once lived while raising their children and taking care of the elders.

I can hear the crying from souls and spirits under the rubble, saying; What have I done to deserve this fate; but there are no answers to the whys of their cries. Thousands of men, women, children, and yes, entire families, have had their lives taken from bombs, bullets, and bad intentions.

The impact of the shattered stones creates silence, causing tremors of weeping spirits who once called their lands home. The rubble does not merely bury bodies; it deadens the cries of souls still yearning to be heard, spirits still agonizing to be remembered. Each broken beam and fallen wall reverberates with the sorrow of unseen spirits, mourning not just their end, but the world’s duplicity.

“In today’s social media world, atrocities are visible on Billboards, TV screens, computers, and phones. Consequently, We The People, from faraway lands, are compelled to bear witness and attest to the truth of murder, suffering, and destruction, and find ourselves sharing stories but doing nothing. However, bearing witness and not following up with some form of solidarity or action against acts of injustice, we too can be considered to be engaging in a form of complicity.

I support global peace and personal security for all of humanity; consequently, I will honor anyone who supports humanity with their Words and their Deeds. In wars or conflicts, it is an accepted fact that every country and all people in the world have a right to defend themselves. However, there is a central question that must be asked and must be answered. Specifically, when does a nation’s or an individual’s action cross over from proportionate legitimate defense to genocidal disproportionality?

Let us not be passive observers of destruction and suffering, but active participants in the pursuit of justice, so that the souls and spirits of those who mourn beneath the ruins, anywhere in the world, may find peace in our resolve and allow their souls to be set FREE.

“Can You Hear Spirits And Souls”

This is the new America, where there have been troubling reports indicating that federal agencies are leveraging IRS data and other sources to assist in immigration enforcement, specifically targeting delivery drivers.

The U.S. government has acknowledged in federal court that the IRS has shared taxpayer data with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This includes personal information such as addresses and employer details, which can be used to locate undocumented immigrants.

Moreover, in Washington, D.C., multiple incidents have been reported where delivery drivers, many of whom are immigrants of color, are being stopped and detained by federal agents. During stops, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) officers question drivers about their immigration status and consequently, make arrests.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has even requested the deputization of IRS agents to support deportation efforts, as part of a broader strategy under the present administration to intensify immigration enforcement.

DHS actions have raised serious Legal and Ethical Concerns. Experts warn that this kind of data sharing undermines long-standing taxpayer protections and could erode trust in public institutions. Furthermore, DHS actions are having a chilling effect on immigrant taxpayers. Many undocumented immigrants who pay taxes may now fear filing returns, worried that their information could be used against them.

This is particularly true for the so-called Gig Workers. Delivery drivers, who often work for platforms like Uber Eats or DoorDash, are particularly vulnerable due to the visibility of their work and their reliance on personal data for app-based employment. The government has emphasized prioritizing the deportation of immigrants, both documented and undocumented, who have been convicted of violent crimes.

Leveraging IRS data and other sources to assist in immigration enforcement also raises serious questions about the balance between law enforcement and civil liberties. Moreover, what happens to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) prioritization of deportation efforts, with a particular focus on individuals convicted of crimes like murder, sexual assault, and drug trafficking?

In the ongoing debate over immigration enforcement, it’s vital to remember that policies are not just political instruments; they shape lives, families, and futures. While national security and public safety are legitimate concerns, blanket approaches that criminalize entire communities often do more harm than good.

A just and humane immigration system must balance enforcement with compassion, facts with fairness, and law with dignity. Only then can we build a society that reflects the values Americans claim to uphold. This includes liberty, opportunity, and justice for all. America must be better than what I have witnessed in the last several months.

Conflicts across Africa are often exacerbated by the influx of foreign-supplied weapons, which can destabilize regions and hinder development. The sources of these arms are complex, involving both legal and illicit channels.

The proliferation of arms fuels insurgencies, terrorism, and civil unrest. It also empowers non-state actors to undermine peacekeeping efforts.

According to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the top countries exporting weapons to Sub-Saharan Africa between 2019 and 2023 include:

(1) China – Supplied 19% of total arms to the region. Known for offering low-cost weapons and bundling deals with training and infrastructure support.
(2) Russia – Accounted for 17%. Historically a major supplier, though exports have declined due to its war in Ukraine and sanctions.
(3) France – Provided 11%, often to former colonies like Senegal and Mali.
(4) Türkiye – Emerging supplier with 6.3%, offering drones and armored vehicles.
(5 Belarus – Supplied 4.8%, often to countries like Uganda and Sudan.
(6) United States – Contributed 4.6%, mostly through military aid and sales to strategic partners.

The African Union’s “Silencing the Guns” initiative, which is one of the flagship projects of Agenda 2063, aims to end all wars and violent conflicts across Africa.

Silencing the guns isn’t just about peace—it’s about unlocking Africa’s potential. Conflict drains resources, displaces communities, and stalls development. A peaceful continent could redirect billions toward education, infrastructure, and innovation.

For the African Union’s “Silencing the Guns” initiative to be successful, Africa must synergize foreign and defense policies to present a united front against arms trafficking in all 54 African Nations.

Africa must collaborate with international partners to track and intercept shipments of illicit arms. Africa must utilize technology such as blockchain and AI to monitor arms transfers and detect anomalies. Africa must invest in education, employment, and infrastructure to reduce the appeal of armed groups. Finally, Africa must address the root causes like poverty, inequality, and climate stress, which will help fuel an end to conflict.

PEACE FOR AFRICA

There continues to be substantial public discourse surrounding Jeffrey Epstein, a story that remains in the spotlight years after his death. Beyond the criminal allegations involving sexual abuse, some observers have raised concerns about a hypothetical scenario in which Epstein may have been working with intelligence agencies, including the possibility of ties to Mossad or other foreign services.

Notably, political commentator Tucker Carlson has suggested that Epstein was involved in a blackmail operation on behalf of Israel. Since Epstein’s arrest in 2019 and subsequent death in federal custody, various conspiracy theories have circulated, including claims of potential links between Epstein and the Israeli government. Epstein reportedly maintained relationships with several prominent Israeli and Jewish individuals during the time of his alleged crimes, one of whom was former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, who was seen visiting Epstein’s residence in New York on multiple occasions.

If any intelligence affiliation were definitively proven, it would raise serious concerns regarding U.S. national security. Such a revelation could indicate vulnerabilities in American institutions and prompt urgent inquiries into how and why those breaches occurred, along with steps needed to prevent similar situations in the future.

At this pivotal moment in U.S. history, it is essential for Congress to fully exercise its constitutional authority in reviewing and shaping national security policy. Through both legislative action and robust oversight, Congress must ensure transparency, safeguard national interests, and address potential threats to U.S. institutional integrity.

You can contact members of the U.S. Congress regarding this serious subject matter. Below are the main phone numbers you can use:

• U.S. House of Representatives: Call the House switchboard at (202) 225-3121
• U.S. Senate: Call the Senate switchboard at (202) 224-3121

First, let’s establish a set of facts. Africa has never been poor, and Africa never will be poor. European colonization restructured African economies to serve imperial interests, extracting resources like gold, rubber, and oil while dismantling local industries. Borders were drawn arbitrarily, often grouping rival communities or splitting unified ones, leading to long-term ethnic tensions and governance challenges. Education systems were designed to produce clerks and laborers, not innovators or leaders, reinforcing dependency. The main devils in the red, white, and blue dresses were and are the IMF and World Bank.

Let’s get started. Before European colonization of Africa, the continent was a region of immense diversity, politically astute, culturally hierarchical, and socially superior.

In pre-colonial African societies, Africa maintained an abundance of kingdoms and empires. Some included the Mali Empire, the Kingdom of Kongo, Great Zimbabwe, and the Ethiopian Empire, just to name a few. Africa maintained long periods of PEACE, stability, trade, prosperity, and flourishing cultures.

Traditional governance systems such as chieftaincies, councils of elders, and customary law helped maintain social order and resolve disputes. Africa was a utopia, but it had both peaceful coexistence and conflict. Some regions practiced conflict avoidance by migration or negotiation, especially where land was abundant. The arrival of European powers disrupted existing systems, imposed artificial borders, and introduced so-called Christianity, new forms of violence, and exploitation that reshaped the continent dramatically.

Peace isn’t necessarily the absence of conflict; however, African societies prevailed. Moreover, African societies had sophisticated ways of managing peacefully long before colonization. The introduction of European weapons into Africa, especially during and after colonization, has had profound and lasting effects on the continent’s economic dependency, social fragmentation, and political instability.

European powers supplied firearms to certain African groups to gain allies, suppress resistance, and fuel internal conflicts. This led to the militarization of local disputes, turning traditional rivalries into prolonged wars with devastating consequences. The influx of weapons disrupted indigenous systems of conflict resolution, replacing them with violent power struggles.

Europe successfully created dependency through militarization. Arms imports became a recurring expense for many African states, diverting funds from attaining food security, education, healthcare, and wide-ranging infrastructure. European countries and arms dealers/manufacturers maintained monopolies on advanced weaponry, forcing African nations to rely on them for military supplies and maintenance. The arms trade often came with political strings attached, reinforcing dependency through aid packages, military training, and debt arrangements.

The availability of European weapons contributed to the rise of military juntas and coups, especially in post-independence Africa. Armed forces, often trained and equipped by former colonial powers, became political actors, undermining democratic institutions. In countries like Sudan, Congo, the Sahel, and Mali, and others, repeated coups have been linked to militarized governance and external arms support.

Europe created further social fragmentation and violence by creating weapons-fueled ethnic conflicts, banditry, and extremist movements throughout Africa. Civilian access to small arms, intentionally left over from colonial stockpiles or illicit imports, often led to community-level violence, including gender-based violence and resource conflicts. The normalization of armed conflict has eroded trust in state institutions and deepened societal divisions.

Political instability discourages investment and development, which in turn increases poverty and fuels further conflict. Many African governments often prioritize military spending over social programs, hence reinforcing economic stagnation. External actors continue to supply weapons to both sides of each conflict under the guise of security assistance, perpetuating the cycle. Africans, true lovers of PEACE and tranquility, must realize that many times, “Smiling Faces Tell Lies.”

The “design” to continue the THEFT of Africa’s natural resources and enrich foreign powers and corporations’ assets isn’t just historical; it’s embedded in global systems of finance, trade, and diplomacy. But it’s not immutable. Across the continent, movements for economic sovereignty, pan-African solidarity, and cultural revival are challenging the status quo. This can be structured by establishing the African Minerals Alliance (AMA), which could regulate pricing, contracts, and the supply of all African resources. The goal is to demand fair market value globally…

As I close, I ask all Africans in the diaspora and African-descended people from around the world to join hands and support and replicate the selfless work and vision of Captain Ibrahim Traoré, President of Burkina Faso. Burkina Faso’s internal development is deeply intertwined with its efforts to manage displacement, rebuild infrastructure, and promote social harmony. This is An African Solution For And By An African Leader. We Africans Strong, Must Continue To Look Back As We Move Forward Together.